Pride & Prejudice Book Club Podcast

Welcome to episode 150, book clubbers!

To celebrate this milestone, we're reading the original masterpiece upon which this entire podcast is built: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

The book that launched a thousand (and more!) variations.

Emilie is joined by both Alicia and Sharon as we revisit the novel that started it all and share what stood out to us this time around, including new takes on familiar characters and small details we somehow missed before.

We marvel (again) at Jane Austen’s genius, humor, and razor-sharp wit, and we absolutely fan-girl over the tiniest moments, because… well… it’s Pride and Prejudice!

Thank you to every single listener who has joined us on this journey. Whether you’ve been here from episode one or just found your people, we’re so glad you’re part of this wonderfully nerdy corner of the internet.

Here’s to 150 episodes, and many more to come!

Can love survive when trust is shattered? 

In this episode, we dive into A Wilful Misunderstanding by Amy D’Orazio, a Pride & Prejudice variation that cranks the angst up to 100 and then dares to ask: can a marriage survive betrayal born of pride and insecurity?

We unpack Darcy’s catastrophic (and idiotic) choices, Elizabeth’s devastating heartbreak, and the long, messy road toward forgiveness. Is this a story about true love persevering, or about a man who didn’t deserve true love in the first place? (Our opinions may vary from day to day.)

This book had us in our feelings from the first moment, and while it's often painful, it's that exquisitely delicious kind of angst that sometimes you just can't get enough of!

From willful pride to hard-won healing, this book explores what it really means to believe in someone, and what it costs when you don’t.

Bring tissues. And maybe a strong opinion.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast, leave us a review, and come chat with us online. We love hearing your thoughts (even when you disagree with us)!

🎵 Music Credit:

Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason.

📚 See a list of books we've read at prideandprejudicebookclub.com!

➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

Time for a fan-girl SQUEEEEEEEAL!

 

In this episode, Emilie gets to check another author off her dream guest list as she interviews Amy D'Orazio, a longtime favorite and a true force for good in the Pride and Prejudice variation world. Not only is Amy a talented and beloved author, she’s also the head of Quills and Quartos, an independent publisher that has helped dozens of authors find their footing and thrive in the JAFF publishing world.

 

In this conversation, we cover everything from Amy's origin story (the 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice while traveling abroad) to the creation of fan-favorite original character Lord Saye, along with how her writing has evolved and what stories may be coming next.

 

Grab your hot cocoa and settle in, book clubbers! (Or, if you're driving, keep your eyes on the road...)

 

And after you listen to this episode, be sure to download Amy's newest release, Officious Interference, available NOW!

 

🎵 Music Credit:
Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason.

📚 See a list of books we've read at prideandprejudicebookclub.com!

➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!

[Big spoiler warning on this episode!]

This week we venture into fantasy with Miss Bennet’s Dragon, a gaslamp Regency Pride & Prejudice variation that introduces dragons, mysterious powers, and life or death stakes to the story!

Fantasy isn’t typically Sharon’s genre, but she adventurously dove right into the world-building and dragon lore and discovered it was a lot more fun than she thought it would be! We revel in the quieter, slow-burn romance of this variation, and geek out over Darcy's efforts to communicate to Elizabeth (quietly) how much he cares about her.

The story packs some big surprises, leading to a discussion on how ambition and power reshape familiar characters, and force Elizabeth into morally complex decisions with far-reaching consequences .

If you enjoy Pride & Prejudice variations that take risks, ask big questions, and aren’t afraid to explore darker themes, this episode has plenty to unpack!

This week we're diving head-first into On Equal Ground by Elizabeth Adams, and, surprisingly, we once again find ourselves on very different sides of the emotional fence. Sharon is fully swooning, Emilie is… decidedly not. To be clear, Elizabeth Adams is a phenomenal author, and has penned some of Emilie's favorite stories. This book just happens to combine two of her least favorite tropes 😆

But that's what's great about variations! There's something for everyone!

With a premise that includes Elizabeth being married before meeting Darcy, and then finding herself of elevated status after her tragic loss, there’s plenty to discuss. Grief, second chances, blended families, and what it means to honor a great love while still allowing space for another.

Expect some strong opinions on this one! And as always, we want to hear what you think 😁

🎵 Music Credit:
Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason.

📚 See a list of books we've read at prideandprejudicebookclub.com!

➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!